Bristol

Bristol's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in health, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 430,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Bristol increased by 13%, from just under 381,000 to 428,000.

The addition of just under 48,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the South West and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bristol was home to, on average, 28 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the South West's most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Bristol

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bristol decreased by one year, from 34 to 33 years.

This city had the lowest average age in the South West and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 18,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 20% of people in Bristol are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Bristol by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

This area saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good.

Across the region, only Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole saw a greater rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good (from 67% to 81%).

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good, as the regional average grew from 69% to 82%.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) in Bristol said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.2% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’good’ or ’very good’ health was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that that said their health was good or very good across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Bristol that rented privately increased from 13% to 24% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in five (20%) households lived in social housing, compared with 21% in 2001. The percentage of Bristol households that owner their home decreased from 63% to 54%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South West. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Torbay had the region's next highest proportion of privately rented homes (23%), while the proportion was 16% in North Somerset.

Private renting in Bristol increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bristol, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Bristol

The number of people in Bristol from the White ethnic groups increased from about 350,000 in 2001 to just under 360,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 92% to 84%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Bristol from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 8,800 in 2001 to just under 26,000 in 2011 (from 2.3% to 6.0%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 13,000 to just under 24,000 (from 3.4% to 5.5%).

About 15,000 people (2.1%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 7,900 in 2001 (3.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Bristol decreased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Bristol by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Bristol

This area saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Across the region, only Plymouth saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 30% to 37%).

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 27% to 31%.

In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 and over in Bristol said they were single, compared with 40% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 42% to 37%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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